samantha at saratoga-第14部分

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lin'　glass　in　my　hands。　Sparkle！　sparkle！　sparkle！　what　wuz　it；　it　wuz　a　tryin'　to　say　to　me　and　couldn't？　　Good　land！　　I　couldn't　tell；　and　Josiah　couldn't；　I　knew　instinctively　he　couldn't；　though　I　didn't　ask　him。　No；　I　turned　and　looked　at　that　beloved　man；　for　truly　I　had　for　the　time　bein'　been　by　the　side　of　myself；　and　I　see　that　he　wuz　a　drinkin'　lavishly　of　the　noble　water。　　I　see　that　he　wuz　a　drinkin'　more　than　wuz　for　his　good；　his　linement　showed　it；　and　sez　I；　for　he　wuz　a　liftin'　another　tumbler　full　onto　his　lips；　sez　I；　〃Pause；　Josiah　Allen；　and　don't　imbibe　too　much。〃　〃Why；〃　he　whispered；　〃you　can　drink　all　you　are　a　mind　to　for　5　cents。　　I　am　bound　for　once；　Samantha　Allen；　to　get　the　worth　of　my　money。〃　And　he　drinked　the　tumbler　full　down　at　one　swoller　almost；　and　turned　to　the　weary　boy　for　another。　　He　looked　bad；　and　eager；　and　sez　I；　〃How　many　have　you　drinked？〃　Sez　he；　in　a　eager；　animated　whisper；　〃9。〃　　And　he　whispered　in　the　same　axents；　〃5　times　9　is　45　；　if　it　had　been　to　a　fair；　or　Fourth　of　July；　or　anything；　it　would　have　cost　me　45　cents；　and　if　it　had　been　to　a　church　social　…　lemme　see　…　9　times　10　is　90。　It　would　have　cost　me　a　dollar　bill！　　And　here　I　am　a　havin'　it　all　for　5　cents。　　Why；〃　sez　he；　〃I　never　see　the　beat　on't　in　my　life。〃　And　ag'in　he　drinked　a　tumbler　full　down；　and　motioned　to　the　frightened　boy　for　another。　But　I　took　him　by　the　vest　and　whispered　to　him；　sez　I；　〃Josiah　Allen；　do　you　want　to　die；　because　you　can　die　cheap？　　Why；〃　sez　I；　〃it　will　kill　you　to　drink　so　much。〃　〃But　think　of　the　cheapness　on't　Samantha！　　The　chance　I　have　of　getting　the　worth　of　my　money。〃　But　I　whispered　back　to　him　in　anxus　axents　and　told　him；　that　I　guessed　if　funeral　expenses　wuz　added　to　that　5　cents　it　wouldn't　come　so　cheap；　and　sez　I；　〃you　wont　live　through　many　more　glasses；　and　you'll　see　you　wont。　　Why；〃　sez　I；　〃you　are　a　drowndin'　out　your　insides。〃　He　wuz　fairly　a　gettin'　white　round　the　mouth；　and　I　finally　got　him　to　withdraw；　though　he　looked　back　longingly　at　the　tumblers　and　murmured　even　after　I　had　got　him　to　the　door；　that　it　wuz　a　dumb　pity　when　anybody　got　a　chance　to　get　the　worth　of　their　money；　which　wuzn't　often；　to　think　they　couldn't　take　advantage　on　it。　And　I　sez　back　to　him　in　low　deep　axents；　〃There　is　such　a　thing　as　bein'　too　graspin'；　Josiah　Allen。〃　　Sez　I；　〃The　children　of　Israel　used　to　want　to　lay　up　more　manny　than　they　wanted　or　needed；　and　it　spilte　on　their　hands。〃　　And　sez　I；　〃you　see　if　it　haint　jest　so　with　you；　you　have　been　in　too　great　haste　to　enrich　yourself；　and　you'll　be　sorry　for　it；　you　see　if　you　haint。〃　And　he　was。　　Though　he　uttered　language　I　wouldn't　wish　to　repeat；　about　the　children　of　Israel　and　about　me　for　bringin'　of　'em　up。　But　the　man　wuz　dethly　sick。　　Why　he　had　drinked　11　tumblers　full；　and　I　trembled　to　think　what　would　have　follered　on；　and　ensued；　if　I　hadn't　interfered。　　As　it　wuz；　he　wuz　confined　to　our　abode　for　the　rest　of　the　day。　But　I　wouldn't　have　Josiah　Allen　blamed　more　than　is　due　for　this　little　incedent；　for　it　only　illustrates　a　pervailin'　trait　in　men's　nater；　and　sometimes　wimmen's　…　a　too　great　desire　to　amass　sudden　riches；　and　when　opportunity　offers；　burden　themselves　with　useless　and　wearysome　and　oft…times　painful　gear。　They　don't　need　it　but　seeing　they　have　a　chance　to　get　it　cheap；　〃dog　cheap　〃　as　the　poet　observes；　why　they　weight　themselves　down　with　it；　and　then　groan　under　the　burden　of　unnecessary　and　wearin'　wealth。　　This　is　a　deep　subject；　deep　as　the　well　from　which　my　companion　drinked；　and　nearly　drinked　himself　into　a　untimely　grave。　Men　heap　up　more　riches　than　they　can　enjoy　and　then　groan　and　rithe　under　the　taxes；　the　charity　given；　the　envy；　the　noteriety；　the　glare；　and　the　glitter；　the　crowd　of　fortune…hunters　and　greedy　hangers…on；　and　the　care　and　anxiety。　　They　orniment　the　high　front　of　their　houses　with　the　paint；　the　gildin'；　the　fashion；　and　the　show　of　enormous　wealth；　and　while　the　crowd　of　fashion…seekers　and　fortune…hunters　pour　in　and　out　of　the　lofty　doorway　they　set　out　on　the　back　stoop　a　groanin'　and　a　sithin'　at　the　cares　and　sleepless　anxietes　of　their　big　wealth；　and　then　they　git　up　and　go　down　street　and　try　their　best　to　heap　up　more　treasure　to　groan　over。　And　wimmen　now；　when　wuz　there　ever　a　woman　who　could　resist　a　good　bargain？　　Her　upper　beauro　draws　may　be　a　runnin'　over　with　laces　and　ribbons；　but　let　her　see　a　great　bargain　sold　for　nothin'　almost；　and　where　is　the　female　woman　that　can　resist　addin'　to　that　already　too　filled　up　beauro　draw。　A　baby；　be　he　a　male；　or　be　he　a　female　child；　when　he　has　got　a　appel　in　both　hands；　will　try　to　lay　holt　of　another；　if　you　hold　it　out　to　him。　　It　is　human　nater。　　Josiah　must　not　be　considered　as　one　alone　in　layin'　up　more　riches　than　he　needed。　　He　suffered；　and　I　also；　for　sech　is　the　divine　law　of　love；　that　if　one　member　of　the　family　suffers；　the　other　members　suffer　also；　specially　when　the　sufferin'　member　is　impatient　and　voyalent　is　his　distress；　and　talks　loud　and　angry　at　them　who　truly　are　not　to　blame。　Now　I　didn't　make　the　springs　nor　I　wuzn't　to　blame　for　their　bein'　discovered　in　the　first　place。　　But　Josiah　laid　it　to　me。　And　though　I　tried　to　make　him　know　that　it　wuz　a　Injun　that　discovered　'em　first；　he　wouldn't　gin　in　and　seemed　to　think　they　wouldn't　have　been　there　if　it　hadn't　been　for　me。　I　hated　to　hear　him　go　on　so。　　And　in　the　cause　of　Duty；　I　brung　up　Sir　William　Johnson　and　others。　　But　he　lay　there　on　the　lounge；　and　kep'　his　face　turned　resolute　towards　the　wall；　in　a　dretful　oncomfertable　position　（sech　wuz　his　temper　of　mind）；　and　said；　he　never　had　heard　of　them；　nor　the　springs　nuther；　and　shouldn't　if　it　hadn't　been　for　me。　Why；　sez　I；　〃A　Injun　brought　Sir　William　Johnson　here　on　his　back。〃　〃Wall；〃　sez　he；　cross　as　a　bear；　〃that　is　the　way　you'll　have　to　take　me　back；　if　you　go　on　in　this　way　much　longer。〃　〃In　what　way；　Josiah？〃　sez　I。　〃Why　a　findin'　springs　and　draggin'　a　man　off　to　'em；　and　makin'　him　drink。〃　〃Why；　Josiah　Allen；〃　sez　I；　〃I　told　you　not　to　drink　…　don't　you　remember？〃　〃No！　　I　don't　remember　nuthin'；　nor　don't　want　to。　　I　want　to　go　to　sleep！〃　sez　he；　snappish　as　anything；　so　I　went　out　and　let　him　think　if　he　wanted　to；　that　I　made　the　Springs；　and　the　Minerals；　and　the　Gysers；　and　the　Spoutin'　Rock；　and　everything。　　Good　land！　I　knew　I　didn't；　but　I　had　to　rest　under　the　unkind　insinnuation。　Such　is　some　of　the　trials　of　pardners。　But　Josiah　waked　up　real　clever。　　And　I　brung　him　up　some　delicate　warm　toast　and　some　fragrant　tea；　and　his　smile　on　me　wuz　dretful　good…natured；　almost　warm。　　And　I　forgot　all　his　former　petulence　and　basked　in　the　rays　of　love　and　happiness　that　beamed　on　me　out　of　the　blue　sky　of　my　companion's　eyes。　　The　clear　blue　sky　that　held　two　stars；　to　which　my　heart　turned。　Such　is　some　of　the　joys　of　pardners　with　which　the　world　don't　meddle　with；　nor　can't　destroy。　But　to　resoom。　　Ardelia　sot　down　awhile　in　our　room　before　she　went　back　to　her　boardin'　house。　　I　see　she　wuz　a　writin'　for　she　had　a　long　lead　pencil　in　her　right　hand　and　occasionally　she　would　lean　her　forrerd　down　upon　it；　in　deep　thought；　and　before　she　went；　she　slipped　the　verses　into　my　hand。　Sez　I；　a　lookin'　over　my　specks　at　Ardelia　after　I　had　finished　readin'　the　verses：　〃What　does　'ron'　mean？　　I　never　heerd　of　that　word　before；　nor　knew　there　wuz　sech　a　one。〃　Sez　she；　〃I　meant　ran；　but　I　s'pose　it　is　a　poetical　license　to　say　'ron；'　don't　you　think　so？〃　〃Oh；　yes；〃　sez　I；　〃I　s'pose　so；　I　don't　know　much　about　licenses；　nor　don't　want　to；　they　are　suthin'　I　never　believed　in。　　But；〃　sez　I；　for　I　see　she　looked　red　and　overcasted　by　my　remarks；　〃I　don't　s'pose　it　will　make　any　difference　in　a　100　years　whether　you　say　ran　or　ron。〃　But　sez　I；　〃Ardelia；　it　is　a　hot　day；　and　I　wouldn't　write　any　more　if　I　wuz　in　your　place。　　If　you　should　heat　your　bra…；　the　upper　part　of　your　head；　you　might　not　get　over　it　for　some　time。〃　〃But；〃　sez　she；　〃you　have　told　me　sometimes　to　stop　on　account　of　cold　weather。〃　〃Wall；〃　sez　I；　〃most　any　kind　of　weather　is　hard　on　some　kinds　of　poetry。〃　　Sez　I；　〃Poetry　is　sunthin'　that　takes　particular　kinds　of　folks　and　weather　to　be　successful。〃　　Sez　I；　〃It　is　sunthin'　that　can't　be　tampered　with　with　impunity　by　Christians　or　world's　people。　　It　is　a　kind　of　a　resky　thing　to　do；　and　I　wouldn't　write　any　more　to…day；　Ardelia。〃　And　she　heard　to　me　and　after　a　settin'　a　while　with　us；　she　went　back　to　Mr。　Pixley's。


VIII。　JOSIAH　AND　SAMANTHA　TAKE　A　LONG　WALK。

Wall；　we　hadn't　been　to　Saratoga　long　before　Aunt　Polly　Pixley　came　over　to　see　us；　for　Aunt　Polly　had　been　as　good　as　her　word　and　had　come　to　Saratoga；　to　her　2d　cousins；　the　Mr。　Pixley'ses；　where　Ardelia　wuz　a　stopping。　　Ardelia　herself　is　a　distant　relation　to　Aunt　Polly；　quite　distant；　about　40　or　50　miles　distant　when　they　are　both　to　home。　Wall；　the　change　in　Aunt　Polly　is　wonderful；　perfectly　wonderful。　She　don't　look　like　the　same　woman。　She　took　her　knittin'　work　and　come　in　the　forenoon；　for　a　all　day's　visit；　jest　as　she　wuz　used　to　in　the　country；　good　old　soul　…　and　I　took　her　right　to　my　room　and　done　well　by　her；　and　we　talked　considerable　about　other　wimmen；　not　runnin'　talk；　but　good　plain　talk。　She　thinks　a　sight　of　the　Saratoga　water；　and　well　she　may；　if　that　is　what　has　brung　her　up；　for　she　wuz　always　sick　in　Jonesville；　kinder　bedrid。　　And　when　she　sot　out　for　Saratoga　she　had　to　have　a　piller　to　put　on　the　seat　behind　her　to　sort　a　prop　her　up　（hen's　feather）。　And　now；　she　told　me　she　got　up　early　every　mornin'　and　walked　down　to　the　spring　for　a　drink　of　the　water　…　walked　afoot。　　And　she　sez；　〃It　is　astonishin'　how　much　good　that　water　is　a　doin'　me；　for；〃　sez　she；　〃when　I　am　to　home　I　don't　stir　out　of　the　house　from　one　day's　end　to　the　other；　and　here；〃　sez　she；　〃I　set　out　doors　all　day　a'most；　a　listenin'　to　the　music　in　the　park　mornin'　and　evenin'　I　hear　every　strain　on't。〃　Aunt　Polly　is　the　greatest　one　for　music　I　ever　see；　or　hearn　on。　And　I　sez　to　her；　〃Don't　you　believe　that　one　great　thing　that　is　helpin'　you；　is　bein'　where　you　are　kep'　gay　and　cheerful；　…　by　music　and　good　company；　and　bein'　out　so　much　in　the　sunshine　and　pure　air。〃　　（Better